WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

[bigblue_dl]

Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

So, is the concept here to go with a 6 team "Final 5", and the bottom 4 teams don't make the playoffs, with no opening round?

If this is the plan, it may work ok...if it is in the correct size venue. You get 6 fanbases instead of 4, and try to make it an event that can be planned for a little further in advance than 5 days. There are some advantages to this idea, its just that no one should go into it thinking that this would bring it back to what it was 5 years ago. This would be perfect in a Resch Center sized venue.

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

If this is going to come down to being a money decision, there is no reason for the top teams to give up 2 or 3 home games. They'll make way more money staying home, enjoying home ice, getting two more wins to bolster their records, etc. In the case of Tech, a VERY conservative estimate would say they got an extra $60k for their budget by hosting two playoff games 3,000 per game * $10/person * 2 games.

I can't see the WCHA skipping the first round. The Bi6 does it only because they lack teams. There is no reason for the WCHA to do that format. Want to try something unique do the following playoffs:

First weekend everyone is in the playoffs - 10@1, 9@2, 8@3, 7@4, 6@5

Thursday
5th best series winner vs highest seed that lost in the first round
Sort of a last chance qualifier type opportunity if one or more higher seeds gets bounced in the first round
4th best series winner vs 3rd best series winner
Maybe you would swap #4 and #5 if my proposal would result in a rematch of the previous weekend. For example if #6 beat #5 in the first round, that would result in the the same two teams playing again on Thursday and you don't need the same two teams playing 3 or 4 times in about a week's time.

Friday - reseed
Lowest remaining team vs #1
2nd lowest remaining team vs #2

Saturday
Loser vs loser
Winner vs winner

Ryan J

[ColoToot]

Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

Was a five teams, five games. The fifth played the fourth in a play in game on Thursday. Two semi games on Friday and the Championship and third place game on Saturday.

[MaizeRage]

Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

If this is going to come down to being a money decision, there is no reason for the top teams to give up 2 or 3 home games. They'll make way more money staying home, enjoying home ice, getting two more wins to bolster their records, etc. In the case of Tech, a VERY conservative estimate would say they got an extra $60k for their budget by hosting two playoff games 3,000 per game * $10/person * 2 games.

The league gets all ticket revenue for the first round of the playoffs.

[rustedblades]

Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

It will be interesting to see what kind of attendance WCHA gets with NCHC tournament just down the road. No times for their semi-finals yet but I would believe similar time frames Friday. If St. Cloud makes thier final that would draw a lot of the local fan base that way I would think.

[gfmorris]

Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

The main reason to kill the first round is to save the first round travel costs for the lower seeds. This ameliorates your Alaska travel problem. Also, since you'd be doing it with a week's gap (i.e., the Final Five would still be this weekend with no games last weekend), there is time for drumming up fan support, etc., for six fanbases. If in some amazing, magical universe UAH had beaten Tech this weekend, Huntsville people would be scrambling today to come up with travel plans for four days from now, paying for last-minute flights, etc. The three schools far away from the X (or GR) do face this problem (and so do FSU and LSSU with the games so far away).

I still think that the Final Five should be in Huntsville. It'll be 75ºF and sunny today; it'll be rainy on Thursday, but it's still in the high 50's or low 60's ºF.

And then there's my play-in idea from last season, which would've worked like this (in a world where Alaska was playoff-eligible):

#1 Minnesota State v. their pick of #7 Northern Michigan & #10 Alaska-Anchorage or #8 Alabama-Huntsville & #9 Lake Superior
#2 Michigan Tech v. the alternate side of what Mankato doesn't take
#3 Bowling Green v. #6 Ferris State
#4 Alaska v. #5 Bemidji State

The 7-10 and 8-9 games would soften up those lower seeds for the top seeds. I'm going to bet that, given the quality difference between Northern and UAH/Lake, the Mavericks would've taken that 8-9 pairing in a heartbeat.

I really do like that just eight teams make it into the WCHA playoffs, but if you wanted to do ten and not carry something like a 4/5 into the X or the Van Andel, this is a way to do it. The negative, of course, is that you're paying for six teams to travel instead of four on that first weekend. (I heard from one of UAH's player's girlfriends that the Chargers won't be traveling back until today because of how the league pre-arranged travel here at the last second.)

GFM <— always with the crazy ideas

[bigblue_dl]

Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

It will be interesting to see what kind of attendance WCHA gets with NCHC tournament just down the road. No times for their semi-finals yet but I would believe similar time frames Friday. If St. Cloud makes thier final that would draw a lot of the local fan base that way I would think.

I don't think there are many cross-over fans. The lines have been drawn, I'd think.

[davyd83]

The main reason to kill the first round is to save the first round travel costs for the lower seeds. This ameliorates your Alaska travel problem. Also, since you'd be doing it with a week's gap (i.e., the Final Five would still be this weekend with no games last weekend), there is time for drumming up fan support, etc., for six fanbases. If in some amazing, magical universe UAH had beaten Tech this weekend, Huntsville people would be scrambling today to come up with travel plans for four days from now, paying for last-minute flights, etc. The three schools far away from the X (or GR) do face this problem (and so do FSU and LSSU with the games so far away).

I still think that the Final Five should be in Huntsville. It'll be 75ºF and sunny today; it'll be rainy on Thursday, but it's still in the high 50's or low 60's ºF.

And then there's my play-in idea from last season, which would've worked like this (in a world where Alaska was playoff-eligible):

#1 Minnesota State v. their pick of #7 Northern Michigan & #10 Alaska-Anchorage or #8 Alabama-Huntsville & #9 Lake Superior
#2 Michigan Tech v. the alternate side of what Mankato doesn't take
#3 Bowling Green v. #6 Ferris State
#4 Alaska v. #5 Bemidji State

The 7-10 and 8-9 games would soften up those lower seeds for the top seeds. I'm going to bet that, given the quality difference between Northern and UAH/Lake, the Mavericks would've taken that 8-9 pairing in a heartbeat.

I really do like that just eight teams make it into the WCHA playoffs, but if you wanted to do ten and not carry something like a 4/5 into the X or the Van Andel, this is a way to do it. The negative, of course, is that you're paying for six teams to travel instead of four on that first weekend. (I heard from one of UAH's player's girlfriends that the Chargers won't be traveling back until today because of how the league pre-arranged travel here at the last second.)

GFM <— always with the crazy ideas

Travel arrangements are made to facilitate a 3 game opening round series. But a team can depart Saturday night or Sunday morning if it loses twice. NMU left Bowling Green Saturday Night. Now if there is a flight involved, that is set in stone for a 3 game series. Hard to switch 25-30 plane seats at the last second. Did UAH Bus to Tech or fly? Or maybe fly to Green Bay and bus to Houghton?

[bigblue_dl]

Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

Travel arrangements are made to facilitate a 3 game opening round series. But a team can depart Saturday night or Sunday morning if it loses twice. NMU left Bowling Green Saturday Night. Now if there is a flight involved, that is set in stone for a 3 game series. Hard to switch 25-30 plane seats at the last second. Did UAH Bus to Tech or fly? Or maybe fly to Green Bay and bus to Houghton?

Since they staying in Houghton so long, I'm sure they flew. Why else wouldn't they get a head start on a long bus riride? They had been there long enough that there shouldn't be any issue with rest for drivers.

[gfmorris]

Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

The WCHA flew the Chargers to Houghton, although I'm not sure how. Would you fly a full hockey into Green Bay? They flew commercial, so they didn't fly out of HSV (good luck getting even 15-seat chunks from here to ATL, even on Thursday out). I expect that we were bus-fly-bus.

GFM

[Freddie]

Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

First weekend everyone is in the playoffs - 10@1, 9@2, 8@3, 7@4, 6@5

Thursday
5th best series winner vs highest seed that lost in the first round
Sort of a last chance qualifier type opportunity if one or more higher seeds gets bounced in the first round
4th best series winner vs 3rd best series winner
Maybe you would swap #4 and #5 if my proposal would result in a rematch of the previous weekend. For example if #6 beat #5 in the first round, that would result in the the same two teams playing again on Thursday and you don't need the same two teams playing 3 or 4 times in about a week's time.

Friday - reseed
Lowest remaining team vs #1
2nd lowest remaining team vs #2

Saturday
Loser vs loser
Winner vs winner

Ryan J

Please say NO to drugs.
This is the stupidest idea ever.
WCHA will probably adopt it next year.

[blackswampboy]

Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

Surprise NHL Stars
Monday, March 16, 2015
Two of the NHL's best stories belong to undrafted free agent goalies from Bowling Green and Alabama-Huntsville.
- See more at: http://collegehockeyinc.com/articles....VphKqhJd.dpuf

[huskyfan]

Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

let's all go to Huntsville. what WCHA team (and its fans) wouldn't want 60's and sunny? the UP teams would take 40 and rain and still be happy.

[Freddie]

Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

let's all go to Huntsville. what WCHA team (and its fans) wouldn't want 60's and sunny? the UP teams would take 40 and rain and still be happy.

Plus, they get to play in the only ice arena in the country to be named after a Nazi.

[John J. MacInnes]

Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

Plus, they get to play in the only ice arena in the country to be named after a Nazi.

Not true. Don't forget Engelstad(t).